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R. M. APPLETON.

STOP MOTION FUR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

110,256,533, I Patented Apr.18,18'82'.

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ATTORNEY N. PETERS W. Wuunmnc.

" UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE;

ROBERT hL'APPLETON, OF LAKE VILLAGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

STOP -MOTION FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,533, dated April 18, 1882.

Application filed August20,1881- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stop- Motions for Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has reference to that class of knitting-machines in which the operation of knitting is stopped automatically when a certain predetermined length of fabric has been knitted.

The invention consists of an automatic stopmotion for circular-knittin g machines, in which the weight that pulls up the work comes in contact with an adjustable stop-lever, which latter engages an unshipping-lever, whereby the driving mechanism of the needle-cylinder is thrown out of gear and thereby the working of the knitting-machine stopped.

It consists, further, of a vertical rod connected to said stop-lever, of an adjustable stop on said rod, and of a laterally-adjustable catch on the work-pulling weight, which catch engages the stop on the rod and stops the knitting-machine by the action of the stop-lever and unshipping-lever upon the driving-gear of the needle-cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurea represents a side elevation of a circular-knitting machine, partly in section, through the machine-stand. Fig. 2 is a plan view of several machines, parts being-broken away and removed. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical transverse section of the shipper-handle and its springon line 3 3 Fig. 1, and Fig.4 is a top view of the actuating-weight.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawings represents the machinestand, on which is arranged a series of circus lar knitting machines, B, of the usual approved construction. The needle-cylinder of all the machines on the stand A and their driving mechanisms are operated by a common l grooved collar, 1), which is .engaged by the Be it known that I, ROBERT M. APPLETON, of Lake Village, in the county of Belknap and" curved or yoke-shaped middle portion, 1), of a shipper-handle, D, that is pivoted at its rear end to the under side of the stand, and provided at its front end with a handle. The

shipper-handle B, and with it the motion-trans- I mitting bevel-pinion a, is carried in one direction by means of a spiral spring, d, which is attached to the shipper-handle and to a guiderail, 0, at the front of the machine-stand. B y carrying the shipper-handle in opposite direction to that in which the spring tends to pull it, and setting it into a notch or recess, 0, of the guiderail e, the sliding bevel-pinion a is thrown into gear with the actuating bevelwheel a of the machine and retained in this position until the shipper-handle is released. This is accomplished by means of a stop-lever, E, which is fulcrumed to the under side of the machine-stand and extended forward below the driving-shaft, so as to engage by its bent or inclined front end a sidewise-projectin g pin, f, otthe shipper-handlel). The rear arm ofthe fulcrumed stop-lever E is extended sufficiently beyond the rear part of the machine-stand, so that a horizontal stopplate, E, secured to the rear end of the stop-lever, is.vertically,below the weight F, by which the work of the machine is pulled up. The stop-plate E is ver tically adjustable upon the rear end of the stop-lever by a clamp-screw and slotted shank, or any other suitable adjusting mechanism for the purpose of being raised or lowered, so as to regulate the lengths of the goods knitted on the machine. For this purpose there is, fur thermore, connected to the rear end of the shipper-handle an upright wooden rod, 9, which runs up to the ceiling, and which carries one or more adjustable catches, g, which, in connection with an adjustable projection, 9 on the weight, serve to stop the machine at any desired point-as, for instance, for putting in a different color of yarn, or for other purposes.

The projection on the weight may be set back when not required by loosening its fastening-screw.

The weight F is connected to the swivel and hook h, by which the work is pulled up, by a cord or chain, i, which passes over two guidepulleys, i, at the ceiling in the same manner as heretofore. When the desired length of workis obtained the projection g of the weight strikes the catch g on the rod 9, or when it is not used the weight strikes the horizontal stopplate E of the stop-lever E, so as to raise the front end of the same and release the shipperhandle from the notch of the guide-rail e. The spring (I throws the shipper-handle sidewise, together with the sliding bevel-pinion a,which latter is thrown out of gear with the bevelwheel a of the machine.

With proper adjustment of the stop-plate each machine upon the stand may thus be stopped automatically when the required length of work is obtained without waste of fabric and without requiring nnshipping by the attendant.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and its driving means, of an unshippinglever, a stop lever, a work pulling weight adapted to come in contact with the stop-lever, and means forconnecting said weight with adapted to come in contact with the stop-plate, and means connecting said weight with the head of the work, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and its driving means, of an unshippinglever, a stop-lever, a vertical 10d connected to said stop-lever, an adjustable stop on said rod, a work-pulling weight adapted to comein contact with said stop, and means connectingsaid weight with the head of the work, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and its driving means, of an nnshippinglever, a stop-lever, a vertical rod connected to said stop-lever, an adjustable stop on said rod, a work-pulling weight provided with a laterally-adjustable catch adapted to come in contact with said stop, and means for connecting said weight with the head of the work, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1881.

ROBERT M. APPLETON.

Witnesses:

J. F, LAIGHTON, (3120. G. HOYT. 

